{"id":2855,"date":"2014-05-23T21:19:39","date_gmt":"2014-05-24T01:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/?p=2855"},"modified":"2014-05-23T21:26:49","modified_gmt":"2014-05-24T01:26:49","slug":"alex-greenwald-yo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nowthissound.com\/ntsib\/2014\/05\/23\/alex-greenwald-yo\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Greenwald, Yo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GreenwaldYo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

INTERNETS. NESSIE HAS SURFACED.<\/p>\n

Alex Greenwald<\/a> has put his solo record out – it is called Yo<\/i> – and mysteriously not said anything about it. In the event this is because he’s conducting some sort of marketing experiment, I offer my data-point, which is that it took the Tumblr-tide three weeks to bring the news to my door.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I have now listened to it four times in a row, and my reaction is: Mmm. Hmm. Interesting<\/em>. It’s pop music with some echo and wubble-bubble, and for all one of the songs is a love song about a knife, there’s none of the fuzzy rage and jagged aggression that showed up in Phantom Planet’s sound. Lest that make it sound like a weightless, disposable confection, know also that lyrics have razor-sharp edges, sometimes in unexpected places. It is very much the kind of thing that becomes richer with repeated listening.<\/p>\n

Simulacre<\/i> and Still Too Soon<\/i>: The first two tracks are, in order, a 13 second sample of something I didn’t recognize and a song about how all the sunshine in Los Angeles can really mess with your head. This was something I wondered about when I visited, actually, if all the perfect weather eventually makes it feel like you’re living in a weightless summer camp dream all the time<\/i>. I mean, say what you want about New York, but when the December wind comes whipping down the skyscraper-canyons and through your bones, you have to be real with yourself about if you have<\/i> to live here. Because there are definitely easier places to struggle. <\/p>\n

Movin’ On<\/i>: Some people break up with their friends and lovers quickly; others take a little longer. I guess it comes down to whether you want a quick pain, or an extended unraveling.<\/p>\n

Track03<\/i>: Actually track four; I thought this was a labeling mistake and made a mental note to figure out the real title and fix it, and then it turned out to be meta-commentary about the placement and role of songs on mix cds.<\/p>\n

Balisong<\/i>: The aforementioned love song about a knife; one of my favorite songs on the record. Also the only one I can currently find on the internet in a relatively easy-to-share location. That said, those of you who have Spotify, you can listen to this song and the rest of the record there<\/a>.<\/p>\n